Layers(61)

“Hales,” his voice is a fraction gentler as he says my name.

“Are you still at the office?”

“Yeah. What’s up, baby?”

“Nothing special. What’s the plan for the morning?”

I can hear him stop typing. “Any chance you are coming over now?”

A smile roots on my lips. “I’m already tucked in bed.”

He’s quiet for a few seconds then sighs loudly. “I’ve got so many things to do, and unfortunately none of them includes doing you.”

I grin at the phone, both at his words and the fact that he sounds serious enough to be lecturing at a U.N convention.

“How about I pick you up around nine and we drive together to SFO? Our flight is at eleven.”

“Sounds good to me, can’t wait,” I sigh in sheer contentment.

“Same here,” he breathes. “Hang up now, Hales, you’re tempting me to join you in bed and there is so much shit I need to wrap up here.”

“Night, D.”

“Night, H.” His voice comes out as though through a smile.

I hit play and let Phil Collins’ soothing voice accompany me to sleep.

~~~

“Thanks, Natasha.”

I can clearly hear metal jingling. The sound is close now and it sounds like a bundle of keys clicking against one another. Somewhat alarmed, I open my eyes, attempting to adjust my vision against the light coming from the corridor, trying to find out the source of this noise in the middle of the night.

“Daniel?” I whisper and my heart leaps. He turns my way with the warmest, timid smile. In an effort to comprehend his presence I stare at him wordless.

“Natasha let me in,” he explains, as though this clarifies him being here at this very late hour.

“Oh, okay.” I say hesitantly, still in a blur.

“Ian texted me that you needed some TLC.” His eyes on me alight with a soft glee; I look back at him with a thin smile, feeling utter adoration for them both for caring enough.

“And frankly, Hales, I really needed to breathe you in.” He bends lower and kisses my lips.

“You go back to sleep. I’m going to work from here.”

My heart has just been completely melted.

He scoots next to me with his notebook positioned on his lap. “Come here,” he whispers and I nestle on his chest, entirely tranquil. Can’t think of a better way to be woken up and to be falling asleep. As he types, he kisses my head gently. Nuzzling my hair, he takes a deep breath. “Just what I needed,” he exhales. There is a sweet pain in me, deep, deep inside, as I am dissolving into him physically and mentally.

“What’s the time?” I yawn, my eyes heavy.

“One a.m. Sleep, baby.” He kisses the top of my head. Complying, I close my eyes and drift off.

~~~

The sound of the music coming from my iPod is heaving me to wake up; I check the clock on my nightstand to find out it’s a quarter to eight. I need to get up. Recalling late last night I’m confused by Daniel’s grating absence. Though, reassuringly, the pillow beside me is flattened in a slept-upon manner. It wasn’t a dream. Looking closer I notice a small yellow sticky note.

Morning Sweet H, went to get my stuff, see you at nine.

I shake my head, amused at the way his chaotic handwriting slants to the right. How fitting.

I turn up the music and start getting ready. Luxuriating under the warm cascading water of the shower, I think about last night. One thing I can say about Daniel for sure: there’s never a dull moment. He never ceases to overwhelm me.

Observing myself in the standing mirror while applying mascara, I’m pleased with the total look, from the khaki sleeveless wrap dress, the white Mary Jane flats, and the denim jacket to the white-framed sunglasses holding back my hair. Tasha would be proud at the effort. Where is she, anyway? I remember Daniel mentioning she was the one who opened the door for him and that it was very late last night. I don’t have the heart to wake her up just to say goodbye.

At the sound of a firm knock on our door I hurry to the corridor, trying to reach it before more noise wakes Tasha up. I can barely breathe at the sight of Daniel as I open the door; he looks indisputably h-o-t. Wearing plaid gray Bermudas with a white button-down linen shirt, sleeves rolled mid-way, a pair of silver aviator shades tucked into the v-shape formed by the first couple of undone buttons against his tanned chest. Wow, and all this sexy maleness is mine, lucky me.

“You look delicious,” I say, and am greeted with an admiring stare.

“No, that would be you.”

I inch up to kiss his beautiful mouth, to be rewarded with his mouth claiming mine as he pins me to the wall behind. My body responds to him enthusiastically as he presses his firm figure to mine, his fingers quickly lacing through my hair, pulling me into a much more intense kiss.

“Well, good morning to you, too,” I say, flushed, out of breath, trying to regain some sort of balance.

“Good morning,” he smiles a small lopsided smile. He tips my chin up, looking into my eyes with his alluring hazel ones, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “I feel like taking you to your room now but we have a flight to catch.” His deep coaxing voice and the temptation in his words make my stomach gush.




“Bound, unbreakable, rain check?” I smirk sappily at him; he flutters an innocent kiss on my curved lips.